Inter Allies lost 1-0 away at the Nana Agyeman Badu Park in Dormaa to Aduana Stars in the match week 25 fixture of the 2016/17 Ghana Premier League season on Sunday.
Sam Adams’ early minute penalty helped the hosts to a hard fought win in a game where the Cpaelli Boys exhibited top performance against the league leaders.
Kwame Baah started in between the sticks, Emmanuel Kuzuma had his second start. Haruna Shaibu was deployed to the left back position leaving Issahaku Zakari and Hashmin Musah in the heart of defence.
Samuel Bekoe, Stephen Jolley and Martin Antwi controlled the midfield with Dan Amanfo, Abdul Nassiru Hamzah and Uwandu Chikezie Alozie left upfront.
With high hopes of winning the title, the hosts made it an unfriendly start for the ‘Eleven Is To One’ with early pressure.
Haruna Shaibu and Hashmin Musah on two different occasions had to clear the ball off the line just minutes after the kick off whistle was blown.
It was coming and Aduana were rewarded for their early pressure. Abdul Nassiru Hamzah was penalized for handling the ball in the box, a decision that the referee was quick to award.
Sam Adams stepped up and slotted it home, sending the goalkeeper Kwame Baah the wrong way in the 4th minute.
The hosts held on their lead until the mandatory halfway break with Inter Allies enjoying the lion share of possession in that half.
Just like the first half, Aduana Stars started the second half on a very high note but this time, slowed the tempo after close to a quarter of an hour gone in the second department of the game.
The introduction of Abdul Halik Hudu added flair and speed to the attacking set up of Inter Allies, all though, Aduana Stars had a solid and resolute defence to make all attempts futile.
The hosts held onto their slender lead until the end of the game.
Aduana Stars’ Elvis Opoku was named the NASCO Man of the Match.
Inter Allies XI: Baah (c), Kuzuma, Shaibu, Hashmin, I. Zakari, Jolley, Bekoe, Antwi, Amanfo, Abdul Nassiru & Alozie
Subs: P. Boateng, Frimpong, Abdul Halik, Abuga, Ansah, M. Zakari & Saed.
Aduana Stars XI: Addo, Akuoko, Afriyie, Rashed, Wahab, Elvis Opoku, Nsiah, Mumuni, Sam Adams, Sasraku & Tanko.
Subs: Asamoah, Darkwah, Ebenezer Opoku, Mpong, Abdul Rahman, Kyeremeh & Stephen Adams.